Protect Cells, Worksheets, and Workbooks

Protect Cells, Worksheets, and Workbooks

Workbook window protection

The Tools, Protection, Protect Workbook command enables you to protect a workbook so no one can add or delete sheets or resize or move the workbook window.

Workbook file protection

Here’s how to save a workbook in such a way that you must supply a password to open or modify it:

• In Excel 97, select File, Save As to display the Save As dialog box; then click Options in that box to call up the Save Options dialog.
• In Excel 2000 and later, select Tools, General Options when the Save As dialog box appears. If you enter a password in the “Password to open” field, the user must provide the correct password to open the file. If you enter a password in the “Password to modify” field, the user must give the right password to make changes to the file. Without the correct password, the file opens in read-only mode.

Protecting the Workbook

From the Tools menu, select Protection » Protect Workbook…

1. The Protect Workbook dialog box appears.

1. In the Protect Workbook dialog box, select the appropriate option(s):
   

   Option	Description
   Structure	Prevents the user from changing the order of the sheets within a workbook. This includes adding or deleting worksheets.
   Windows	Prevents the user from being able to resize or move the window.
   Password	Allows only those who know the password to turn the workbook protection off.

Click OK
The workbook is protected.

Protecting the Worksheet

Windows:

1. From the Tools menu, select Protection » Protect Sheet…
   The Protect Sheet dialog box appears.

1. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, select the appropriate options:
   

   Option	Description
   Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells	Prevents changes to locked cells.
   Password to unprotect sheet	Allows only those who know the password to unprotect the worksheet.
   Allow all users of this worksheet to	Checked boxes are aspects that any user can access.

Click OK

1. The worksheet is protected.

From the Tools menu, select Protection » Protect Sheet…
The Protect Sheet dialog box appears.

1. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, select the appropriate options:
   

   Option	Description
   Contents	Prevents changes to locked cells, columns or rows, chart sheet, and any formulas in the cells
   Objects	Prevents changes to graphic objects (e.g., text boxes, an embedded chart).
   Scenarios	Prevents changes to scenarios (i.e., any input values you substituted in a worksheet).
   Password	Allows only those who know the password to unprotect the worksheet.

Click OK
The worksheet is protected.